Here is what makes Del Oro’s student section the best in Sacramento (according to them)
When you grow up as a kid in Loomis, your life revolves around Del Oro High School.
The Golden Eagles have a rich football and community tradition that is conveyed by its proud student section nicknamed “The Black Hole.” Earlier this month, Del Oro won The Sacramento Bee student section of the year poll by edging out Sierra Foothill League rival Folsom.
Becoming a student section leader at Del Oro is a big deal. You have to fill out an application and then administrators and teachers pick who will lead the student section. Only seniors are allowed to apply for the positions.
The eight Del Oro students that were selected and have led the student section at all football games this season are Taitum Carter, Payton Dessert, Elise Lugo, Avery Macktinger, Vivian Mandell, Chris Marisco, Austin Swedensky and Sam Wood.
Swedensky grew up around Del Oro football and dreamed of being a student section leader at the school since he was a freshman.
“Tradition is everything at Del Oro,” Swedensky said. “I’ve seen this tradition since I was able to remember. So I’ve wanted to be a Black Hole leader since freshman year. So, to finally be able to do it and for it to be so successful is so awesome and makes me so happy.”
He added, “A good student section has to be loud and more importantly they have to all be on the same page and cheering together as one. … I think it brings a great advantage, it demoralizes the opposing team and gets our team fired up.”
Lugo, who is also one of the student section leaders, shares the same sentiment as Swedensky. She dreamed of one day being able to lead the student section.
“Being a leader this year has been so much fun,” Lugo said. “Since I was little seeing the Black Hole, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Carrying out tradition but also having a chance to rebuild things after COVID-19 was a really cool opportunity. It was seriously the best year ever and I’m looking forward to seeing the leaders next year follow in our footsteps.”
Lugo added about the other student section leaders, “This year was super special because all eight of us are super good friends. We meet once a week and plan out the near future, whether it be themes or things we need to get my confetti and thunder sticks. We are all assigned specific games and are “in charge” of making sure everything’s all set for it, but we really all work together.”
Del Oro football coach Mike Maben is an alumni of the school. So if anyone knows and can appreciate tradition, it’s him.
“The Del Oro “Black Hole” was amazing this year,” Maben said. “Under the leadership of staff member Amanda Larsen and student leaders Chris Marisco and Elise Lugo our student section was above and beyond the best student section we saw all year.”
He added, “In the face of adversity, they stayed positive and spirited rain or shine, win or loss. They gave us an advantage every home game, and inspired our players to perform to the best of their ability. Our student section made me proud to be a Del Oro alumni and they helped make Friday nights in Loomis a special event.”